Christianity: Socialist or Capitalist

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Wootah
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Christianity: Socialist or Capitalist

Post #1

Post by Wootah »

OK so here is my argument for Christianity being capitalist.

Christians believe that we are saved by grace. That we can do nothing to save ourselves from God's wrath and that we entirely rely on God's help as Jesus to rescue us and we call upon that aid for our salvation.

But the key idea here is that we can do nothing.

So which system best fits this model. Socialism implies that we can save ourselves and by interfering in the market we can produce better outcomes and Capitalism implies that the market knows best and we cannot save ourselves.

This to me explains our dislike of capitalism. We all want to be God and want to save ourselves and so we reject Christ and Capitalism.

Actually I think it would be a useful separate exercise to examine just how many things in our life are free gifts from God that we do not deserve but should be grateful for.

Anyone disagree?
Proverbs 18:17 The one who states his case first seems right, until the other comes and examines him.

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Re: Christianity: Socialist or Capitalist

Post #11

Post by help3434 »

[Replying to post 10 by Wootah]

There is waaayyy more to capitalism that "two people freely trading" There is who owns the means of production, the power that comes from large amounts of wealth being conentrated to a relatively small number of people, claiming ownership of property and protecting that claim etc. 2000 years ago when Christianity started was well before the industrial revolution so trading then was not the same as modern capitalism.

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Re: Christianity: Socialist or Capitalist

Post #12

Post by Wootah »

[Replying to help3434]

I think you are confusing capitalism and socialism. Socialists worry about who owns the means of production.
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Re: Christianity: Socialist or Capitalist

Post #13

Post by help3434 »

[Replying to post 12 by Wootah]

So a capitalist who owns a factory doesn't worry about his claims of ownership over the factory? He won't turn to the legal system when his underlings try to run the factory contrary to his wishes and refuse to leave the property when fired? What are you even talking about?

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Re: Christianity: Socialist or Capitalist

Post #14

Post by Wootah »

[Replying to post 13 by help3434]

No I'm picking on the phrase. Worrying about who owns the means of production is socialist thinking. Having owners in capitalist thinking.

Private property rights are fundamental to prosperity and grounded in basic moral law. Tbh rule of law is a pre condition to prosperity. The value of everything is propped up by how well society upholds just laws.
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Post #15

Post by 2ndRateMind »

Wootah wrote: OK so here is my argument for Christianity being capitalist...Anyone disagree?
I notice that capitalism is consistent with economic freedom. And socialism is consistent with economic equality. For me, at any rate, both of these plausible outcomes, freedom and equality, are entirely desirable, but, as put by the OP, they stand in mutually exclusive contrast. Some compromise needs be arrived at. The simplest compromise seems to me to be to have a mainly capitalist economy, overseen largely with a benign neglect by a left of centre government.

And I do not think Jesus would disapprove of such a result, if it meant the sick and the poor could expect the succour of the strong and the rich, and that burden was equitably shared amongst the whole of the nation.

Best wishes, 2RM.
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Post #16

Post by 2ndRateMind »

[Replying to post 15 by 2ndRateMind]

Incidentally, it occurs to me to add that the question to ask is not: 'Is Christianity capitalist?' but: 'Is capitalism Christian?'. We should never think that God is on our side, only ever wonder if we are on God's side.

Best wishes, 2RM.
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Post #17

Post by Athetotheist »

I think a reading of Acts 4:32-5:4 shows clearly enough that Christianity is NOT capitalist, nor should it be. Considering the way the modern global free market is treated like a god and slavishly served at the expense of every other concern, it seems to me that Christians should be highly uncomfortable with the idea of Christianity being capitalist.

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Post #18

Post by Smythe »

Socialist or Capitalist?

I suppose there are Socialist Christians, and there are Capitalist Christians.

But if we ask the question of Jesus, I think the answer is "neither".

Socialism and Capitalism are both materialist systems.

Jesus was an anti-materialist.

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